Lofepramine is a tricyclic antidepressant related to imipramine. Meta-analyses were carried out with respect to efficacy and tolerability by combining outcome and adverse reaction from over 20 controlled trials comparing lofepramine with other tricyclic antidepressants. Lofepramine was at least as effective as the comparators with fewer adverse effects. In particular, the risk/benefit ratio seemed superior to the comparators amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, maprotiline and desipramine.
LancasterSGGonzalezJP: Lofepramine: a review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic efficacy in depressive illness. Drugs1989; 37: 123–140.
2.
YusufSCollinsRMacMahonS: Effect of intravenous nitrates on mortality in acute myocardial infarction: an overview of the randomised trials. Lancet1988; i: 1088–1092.
3.
PignonJP: La meta-analyse en recherche clinique. Presse Med1988; 17: 2328–2330.
4.
SacksHSBerrierJReitmanD: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. N Engl J Med1987; 316: 450–455.
5.
JesselHJesselIWegenerG: Therapie von älteren depressiven Patienten: Lofepramin und Amitriptylin unter Doppelblindbedingungen. Z Allg Med1981; 57: 784–788.
6.
HermannHBollerWStollK-D: Double-blind trial of Gamonil compared to amitryptiline. Report No. ZPD 31/802/272, 1977; data on file.
7.
DornM: Psychopharmaka in der Praxis: Doppelbindprufung Lofepramin. Z Allg Med1980: 56: 133–139.
8.
MarnerosAPhilippM: A double-blind trial with amitriptyline and lofepramine in the treatment of endogenous depression. Int Pharmacopsychiatry1979; 14: 300–304.
9.
McClellandHKerrTStephensD: The comparative antidepressant value of lofepramine and amitriptyline. Acta Psychiatr Scand1979; 60: 190–198.
10.
MontbrunFObermairW: Doppelblindstudie Lofepramin versus Amitriptylin. Therapiewoche1976; 26: 8722–8726.
11.
WrightSHermannL: Doppelblindversuch zum Wirkingvergleich von Lofepramin und Amitriptylin bei ambulant behandelten Patienten mit depressiven Zustandsbildern. Arzneimittelforschung1976; 26: 1167–1169.
12.
PughRBellJCooperAJ: Does lofepramine have fewer side effects than amitriptyline? Results of a comparative trial. J Affective Disord1982; 4: 355–363.
13.
BemikVMaiaE: Avaliacão clinica e terapeûtica de una nova substancia antidepressorã, lofepramina – (EMD 31.802), comparada à amitriptilina na terapeûtica da depressao. Rev Bras Clin Ter1978; 7: 43–50.
14.
MariateguiJChavezHOlivaresA: Lofepramina: estudio clinico comparativo con amitriptilina. Acta Psiquiatr Psicol Am Lat1978; 24: 201–209.
15.
KimuraMFukamachiTOnoT: Clinical evaluation of lofepramine, a new antidepressant–comparison with amitriptyline by double-blind technique. Basic Pharmacol Ther1978; 6: 64–105.
16.
DoongajiD: Double-blind comparative trial of lofepramine and amitriptyline in the treatment of moderate to severe major depression (in preparation).
17.
d'EliaBBorgSHermannL: Comparative clinical evaluation of lofepramine and imipramine. Psychiatric aspects. Acta Psychiatr Scand1977; 5: 10–20.
18.
BornsteinC: Clinical investigation of Gamonil 35 mg and 70 mg. Report No. ZPD 31/802339; data on file.
19.
RickelsKWeiseCCZalHM: Lofepramine and imipramine in unipolar depressed outpatients: a placebo-controlled study. Acta Psychiatr Scand1982; 66: 109–120.
20.
FeighnerJPMeredithCHDuttJE: A double-blind comparison of lofepramine, imipramine and placebo in patients with primary depression. Acta Psychiatr Scand1982; 66: 100–108.
21.
UpeguiPP: Double-blind study comparing the antidepressive actions of lofepramine and imipramine. Col Psychiatr Rev1978; 7: 137–145.
22.
WoggonBAngstJBleulerM: Comparison of a new antidepressive, lofepramine, with imipramine in a double-blind multicentre trial. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr1975; 221: 157–165.
23.
MoriA: Comparison of clinical effects of lofepramine and imipramine on depression using double-blind technique. Jpn J Clin Psychiatry (Tokyo)1977; 6: 417–422.
24.
KudoY: The comparison of side effects of antidepressants. VIth World Congress of Psychiatry, Honolulu, Hawaii, 28 August – 3 September 1977..
25.
KhanM: Double-blind comparative trial of lofepramine and imipramine in the treatment of moderate to severe major depression (in preparation).
26.
SentisP: Etude d'un Nouvel Antidepresseur le Chlorhydrate de Lofepramine. Thesis, University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse. Report No. ZPD 31/802/349, 1981; data on file.
27.
VolmatC: Comparison of lofepramine and clomipramine. Report No. ZPD 31/802/340; data on file.
28.
WartelR: Comparison of lofepramine and clomipramine. Report No. ZPD 3/802/342; data on file.
29.
DimitriouEParaschosALogothetisJ: A double-blind comparison of lofepramine and clomipramine in depressed outpatients. Psychopharmacol Bull1984; 20: 684–687.
30.
PerierM: Expert clinical opinion of Gamonil 35 mg and 70 mg: comparative double-blind clinical study versus maprotiline. Report No. ZPD 31/802/468, 1975; data on file.
31.
ObermairWPoldingerW: Double-blind comparison of the effects of a new tricyclic antidepressant (lofepramine) and a tetracyclic antidepressant (maprotiline). Int Pharmacopsychiatry1977; 12: 65–71.
32.
FinkeGWegenerG: Vergleich der therapeutischen Wirkung con Lofepramin und Maprotilin) bei depressionen. Munch Med Wochenschr1982; 124: 301–303.
33.
LlorensJD'AnnaL: Evaluacion comparada doble ciego de la actividad antidepresiva de los compuestos lofepramina y desipramina. Sintesis1979; 11: 35–44.
34.
HallstromC: Double-blind clinical study comparing lofepramine and desipramine (unpublished data).
35.
AngstJBattegayRBenteD: Das Dokumentations-System der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Methodik und Dokumentation in der Psychiatrie (AMP). Arzneimittelforschung1969; 19: 399–405.
36.
OttossonJ: Experimental studies of the mode of action of electroconvulsive therapy. Acta Psychiatr Scand1960; suppl 145.
37.
LipmanRCoviL: Outpatient treatment of neurotic depression: medication and group psychotherapy. In: Evaluation of the Psychologic Therapies (SpitzerRKleinD, eds). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1976; pp 178–218.
38.
HamiltonM: A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry1960; 23: 56–62.
39.
HamiltonM: The assessment of anxiety states by rating. Br J Med Psychol1959; 32: 50–55.
40.
KleinDF: Endogenomorphic depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry1974; 31: 447–451.
41.
RickelsK: The physician depression scale (PDS). A factor analytic study. Pharmacopsychiatry1973; 6: 280–286.
42.
SnaithRAhmedSMehtaS: The assessment of the severity of primary depressive illness. Psychol Med1971; 1: 143–149.
43.
ZungW: A self-rating depression scale. Arch Gen Psychiatry1965; 12: 63–70.
44.
BeenP: A meta-analysis of the antidepressant properties of serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Int Rev Psychiatry1990; 2: 207–211.
45.
HenryJAMartinAJ: The risk – benefit assessment of anti-depressant drugs. Med Toxicol1987; 2: 445–462.
46.
RaskinASchultebrandtJGRealingN: Differential response to chlorpromazine, imipramine and placebo. Arch Gen Psychiatry1970; 23: 164–173.
47.
FeigherJPRobinsEGuzeSB: Diagnostic criteria for use in psychiatric research. Arch Gen Psychiatry1972; 26: 57–63.
